Benefits of short-chain fatty acids and their receptors in inflammation and carcinogenesis

Epidemiological studies have linked increased incidence of inflammatory diseases and intestinal cancers in the developed parts of the world to the consumption of diets poor in dietary fibers and rich in refined carbohydrates. Gut bacteria residing in the intestinal lumen exclusively metabolize dietary fibers. Butyrate, propionate and acetate, which are collectively called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), are generated by fermentation of dietary fibers by gut microbiota. Evidences indicate that SCFAs are key players in regulating beneficial effect of dietary fibers and gut microbiota on our health. SCFAs interact with metabolite-sensing G protein-coupled receptors GPR41, GPR43 and GPR109A expressed in gut epithelium and immune cells. These interactions induce mechanisms that play a key role in maintaining homeostasis in gut and other organs. This review summarizes the protective roles of GPR41, GPR43 and GPR109A in dietary fibers-, gut microbiota- and SCFAs-mediated suppression of inflammation and carcinogenesis in gut and other organs.